Eleven civil society organizations issued a joint statement commending the Canadian natural resources committee for summoning Jackson Wijaya, owner of Domtar (formerly Paper Excellence), along with Canada’s industry minister and Forest Stewardship Council representatives, to testify regarding Domtar’s ties to Asia Pulp & Paper (APP).
Domtar recently confirmed Wijaya’s acquisition of sole control of APP, one of Asia’s most controversial pulp and paper companies. This move solidifies long-standing concerns about shared ownership between Domtar and APP, despite Wijaya having previously refused to answer questions before Parliament.
APP has a documented history of deforestation in Indonesia, destroying over two million hectares of critical rainforest, impacting endangered species and causing conflicts with hundreds of communities. Its operations have led to significant carbon emissions and environmental damage. Domtar’s own record in Canada includes mill closures, halted pension payments and controversial lawsuits – all while accepting hundreds of millions of dollars in government assistance.
The groups urge Canadian and U.S. governments to investigate the implications for North America’s forest industry. They call on the FSC to acknowledge that Domtar is part of APP’s corporate group and for it to extend APP’s disassociation by revoking Domtar’s certifications. In addition, the groups urge Domtar’s purchasers not to renew their contracts.
Read the full joint statement here.
Signatories: David Suzuki Foundation, Environmental Paper Network, Greenpeace Canada, Nature Canada, Nature Nova Scotia, NRDC, Ontario Nature, Rainforest Action Network, Sierra Club, Wilderness Committee, Wildlands League.